Rewrite, Rewind
Chapter 30
At dusk many Fire Nation soldiers were staring at the entrance of the broken outer wall, staring unabashed at the masked woman standing with a travel lizard at her side. Just as the sun began to kiss the horizon another figure walked through the entrance, a mist trailing after them like a haunting kiss of moonlight at dusk. The second figure was carrying a large box with both hands, looking solemn as it stopped before the masked woman. The masked woman reached out with one hand, clasped the bow of the box, hesitated, then pulled the box away; moving to carefully set it on the back side of the giant lizard awaiting orders for departure. As the mist from beyond the wall filtered in through the entrance, everyone watched as the commanders arrived and bowed to the masked woman and her shorter counterpart. Many soldiers were asking questions, some softly other's not so soft, but the theme was clear: Who were the women?
"Lady La, please have a safe trip," Iroh said as he stepped closest to the masked woman, unafraid of the blue painted swirls adorning her shapeless mask. As La turned to speak with Iroh, revealing the bowing figure before her, a soldier stepped close to the traveling lizard and touched the side of the box set and retreated before the masked woman said or did anything. Once at a safe enough distance the soldier looked down at his palm, now able to see what the strange liquid was.
"What is it?" his comrade looked at his hand curiously, "is that blood? Did you cut yourself?"
"Where is the civilian doctor?" They turned towards the cold voice, staring blankly at the line of commanders.
"Her name is Hai He," Lu Ten scoffed at him. "Commander Zhao, you've caused her enough trouble on this trip, how can you constantly forget her name?"
"She's not important," Commander Zhao tossed back carelessly. "I thought she was to be leaving with… La was it?"
"She is," La answered stiffly. The soldiers around them looked to the box on the lizard with the one corner dripping liquid, then the mortified face of the soldier who had previously touched the box, then back at the woman 'La'.
"Then where is she?" Commander Zhao asked but when no answer came, he looked about himself, wondering he merely missed sight of her. Instead his eyes landed on the box held up by the lizard, one corner red, then his eyes went to the nearest soldier's and saw their expressions, the way one soldier was just staring at his hand as if it was talking to him. "Heh," Commander Zhao seemed to have gone to the same conclusion as everyone else. "Serves her right." Iroh put one arm out to La, as if he was afraid she'd lunge at Zhao.
"Commander Zhao, you will take point in the next attack," General Iroh ordered. "Since Hai He is no longer here, defensive measures will be defaulted to you, as the next superior officer with the most knowledge of how earth benders work."
"I understand," Zhao smirked and bowed halfheartedly at Iroh, "I will go prepare our plans." He left, still smirking, unconcerned with the bowing figure beside La and Iroh.
"Hey Wu Huo, long time no see!" Lu Ten turned and greeted the bowing figure, even going so far as skipping up to them and offering them a hand. "Sorry its during war time though! I know it's gonna be hard on you but I promise to make it up to you later!"
"Um Prince Lu Ten," the soldier who touched La's traveling box called out, his voice shaking, "um… sir…"
"Hm? What's up?" Lu Ten turned towards the soldier, glancing briefly at the man's offered palm.
"L-Lady Hai He," the soldier couldn't finish his sentence, he was one of Hai He's regular patents in her clinic, so he was the one to put the pieces together the quickest.
"Hm?" La glanced at the soldier's palm. "oh, Hai He's makeup jar must've fallen over. Packing has never been her strong suit."
"Huh?" the soldier blinked dumbly at the masked woman.
"You can stand now, two-face is gone." La looked down at the bowing figure. The figure stood and everyone stared at the woman with scarlet swirls covering her face, accenting her brilliant flame orange eyes.
"Wu Huo is the heiress of the imperial guards in the palace," General Iroh explained quickly. "Ordinarily they would have their faces covered by a mask but in times of battle the mask will get in the way. Thus Paint is used to hide their features during battle. We call it 'War Paint'!" Iroh added the last part with a cheerful laugh and clap of hands. Lu Ten and Wu Huo shared similar looks, Lu Ten almost instantly burst into laughter and Wu Huo caved with a sigh and fond smile.
"Hai He?" General Iroh looked at the female soldier, tears rolling down her face as she approached slowly.
"Technically Hai He is a servant, while Wu Huo is a soldier," General Iroh scratched at his beard, smiling at the teary-faced soldier. "However, they are one and the same—whoa!" Iroh stumbled aside as several dozen soldier's charged Hai He and lifted her into the air, all laughing with relief.
"We thought you died!" one of the female soldiers shouted, nuzzling Wu Huo's face into her shoulders.
"oh come on I can't breathe!" Hai He's voice cracked in distress as she broke beneath all the smothering affection.
"Wu Huo!" La snapped, reaching out to rapt thin fingers on the young woman's head, earning a pained yelp, "you've forgotten your training!"
"Oh give her some credit, La," Lu Ten laughed. "its been years since she was last in war paint! And normally the people surrounding her don't adore her!"
"I feel neglected," Iroh whimpered at his son, "Why don't people greet me like that?"
"Zuko and Azula do," Lu Ten smirked at his father.
"Not since they turned nine," Iroh retorted with a whimper
"You haven't seen them since their ninth birthday!" Lu Ten laughed
"Regardless of affection," La's voice was cold, reminding everyone of her presence like the frigid mist rolling about their feet. "No one else is too know of this. We've already spoken too much."
"Please relax Lady La," one of the soldiers called out. "We've already promised to protect Lady Hai He!"
"She's bender-less so she automatically falls in the department of 'need to protect no matter what'." Another laughed
"The number one rule of Imperial Guard is not speak," La interrupted the course of reason of why the soldiers would protect Hai He, who was now Wu Huo. "She must not speak until this mission is over. Wu Huo is mute! It is a part of our training!"
"Alright, alright, everyone," Iroh called out, "Let go of sweet Wu Huo so she can breath and lets all go back to our mission!"
"We still have a city to conquer!" Lu Ten cheered and the result was laughter and cheers. La left with a wave, moving to take her seat on her giant lizard and braced herself against its back as it took off at incredible speed.
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